2018 Volume 5 Issue 1 Pages 15-21
Objective: Recently, a decrease in skeletal muscle mass was found to be related to atherosclerosis risk. We investigated the relationship between skeletal muscle mass and atherosclerosis risk factors according to visceral fat accumulation status, using accurate, simple bioelectrical impedance methods.
Methods: The study included 1,161 middle-aged Japanese people (998 men and 163 women). The skeletal muscle was assessed using a bioelectrical impedance method between the upper and lower limbs, and visceral fat area (VFA) was measured using a dual bioelectrical impedance method. The subjects were divided into two groups according to VFA (VFA ≥100 cm2 and VFA <100 cm2) by sex and the relationship between percentage of skeletal muscle of body weight (PSM) and the number of atherosclerosis risk factors in each group was investigated. Multiple linear regression analysis was performed to determine the relative contribution of explanatory variables (age, VFA, subcutaneous fat area, and PSM) to the response variable (number of risk factors).
Results: The mean PSM significantly decreased as the number of risk factors increased in both men and women. In men with VFA <100 cm2, the number of risk factors was significantly correlated with PSM (B = -0.164, p < 0.001), whereas in men with VFA ≥100 cm2, there was no correlation. In women, the number of risk factors was not correlated with PSM irrespective of VFA.
Conclusions: Skeletal muscle mass assessed using the present accurate, simple bioelectrical impedance methods may be a new index for assessing the possibility of atherosclerosis risk factors in men.
